This will focus on what we saw from being at the game!
Last night’s win was a big one for North Carolina. Playing a neutral-site, prime-time game against a rival and SEC school puts eyes on the program. Dominating them physically brings a whole new aspect. UNC was ready and showed that this isn’t the same defense as years past.
College Gameday
One of the most fun parts of the season beginning is the start of College Gameday on ESPN. They travel from city to city weekly for the biggest matchups. It started early, but there were a lot of fans ready to go. The area that they held the show in was perfect, and it allowed for fans to engage, cheer loudly and for the country to see that both of these schools were ready to go.
Pre-Game
Being at the stadium for a game is always a fun experience. Unfortunately, South Carolina accounted for around 70 percent of the fans at the game. The Gamecock fans were loud before the game, all the way up until kickoff. SEC schools love their football, and it showed. Kudos to the South Carolina fan base for traveling and showing their support. Hopefully, North Carolina fans will be more serious about football as the season goes on. The team had a great run last year, although the ending was a bit disappointing. It would have been nice to see more UNC fans there, ready to cheer on the Tar Heels.
Game Time
As the game started and nerves began to settle, the fans got very into each play. There were loud moments from both fan bases. As the game wore on, North Carolina showed they were the better team. The defense looked better than we have seen in many years, and the Tar Heel crowd loved it. There was shock and awe, as no one expected that good of a defensive performance. As the lead stretched, the Gamecock crowd quieted down. North Carolina fans got loud and kept up the energy throughout the entire second half. South Carolina fans began to leave midway through the fourth quarter. When UNC won, there was electricity among players, coaches, and fans alike.
Post Game
As you can imagine, with the game decided, North Carolina fans ruled the stadium. Fans sang the Alma Mater, and a loud “Tar”/”Heels” chant broke out. The win was sweet, and the Tar Heels had shown who the real Carolina was.
What a way to start the season. Hopefully there are many more wins to come!
